UNUSUAL PURCHASE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23514, 31 May 1938, Page 6

UNUSUAL PURCHASE

SALVAGED MOTOR TRUCK RAISED FROM BED OF ATLANTIC (Per United Press Association) HASTINGS, May 30. Sunk by a rebel warship off the Spanish coast, left for weeks at the bottom of the Atlantic, salvaged by the British Insurance Company, shipped back to London, bought by a New Zealander and now running on the streets of Hastings—this is the adventurous career of a Pontiac motor truck new in possession of Mr R. Van Asch. of Havelock North. The truck, one of a shipment of 60, was consigned by the Vauxhall Motor Company, London, to its firm in South Africa. During the voyage, the ship was torpedoed by a rebel Spanish warship off the coast of Spain, near Coruna. For weeks the truck with the other cargo lay at the bottom of the Atlantic until efforts at salvage, inaugurated by the British Insurance Company, were successful. The salvaged machines were taken back to England. and there stored in a London garage. Meanwhile, from the other side of the world, a New Zealander, Mr Ralph Van Asch, of Havelock Nox-th, had gone on a visit to England. In London, his motor developed engine trouble outside the garage to which the salvaged trucks had been taken. Mr Van Asch purchased one of them, and, on his return to New Zealand, shipped the purchase back with him. He placed the truck in the hands of a Hastings firm,, and in a short time it was repaired, repainted, and put into first-class order.